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carol maguire

Carol Maguire is a celebrated artist known for using painterly brushstrokes and saturated colors. Her signature style melds a sophisticated use of color with classical styling, which results in work that reflects her joyful approach to life.
     
 
 
Clockwise, from top left: Carol at the launch party for Carol Maguire Home in 2009; “Little Dolls” oil painting by Carol Maguire; Hydrangea Totebags by Carol Maguire Home; Sunflower Turquoise tablecloth and napkins by Carol Maguire Home.

In 2009, Carol partnered with her daughter Amanda to launch Carol Maguire Home, a boutique line of home décor products inspired by Carol’s artwork. The new brand features table linens and personal accessories, including scarves and tote bags.

Although she is most often found in her painting studio these days, Carol spent many of her earlier years in front of the sewing machine. When she was just five years old, she could be heard in her bedroom whizzing along on her small Singer sewing machine, making clothes and small quilts for her dolls.

While studying art in Paris, Carol was inspired by the rich colors and patterns of Matisse, Cezanne and Bonnard. Her work echoed this enthusiasm as she constructed patchwork quilts, collages, and painted with vibrant colors.

After college, Carol pursued her love for sewing and became a frequent contributor to Better Homes and Gardens. In 1985, she was featured in their wildly successful hardcover edition of “Better Homes and Gardens: American Patchwork & Quilting.” Featuring hand-painted and quilted wall hangings and pillows, Carol found synchronization between her loves for painting and quilting. She formalized this love by creating Hayden Designs, Inc., selling her own unique painted and quilted products.


Maguire’s work was featured in Better homes & Gardens: American Patchwork & Quilting in 1985. Above Left: Maguire’s  wall-hangings. Above Right: Maguire with her pillows.

In the 1990’s, Carol became the design director for Little Souls, Inc., an artisan company that features one-of-a-kind, handmade and unconventional dolls. Overseeing the design, sourcing and marketing, Carol created over 100 styles per year. In this capacity, she traveled the world over to set up cottage industries for disenfranchised women to make components of the dolls: hand crocheted sweaters from Armenia, felted shoes from Peru, beaded sweaters from Romania and hand screen-printed dresses from India.

In 2000, Little Souls, Inc. was chosen by Saks Fifth Avenue to design their famous annual Holiday Window Displays for their flagship store in New York City. With this honor came the greater project of producing enough holiday products to fill two floors of the Saks store. As a result, Carol traveled to India to design and source hundreds of products, including pillows, Christmas stockings, tree skirts, ornaments, and fabulous velvet costumes for Santa and Mrs. Claus.

   
   
Clockwise from Top Left: “The Dollmaker” and “Gizelle,” designed by Maguire for Little Souls, Inc.; Maguire’s artwork as featured in American Art Collector in 2009; Dinnerware designed by Maguire for Kate Spade; “Taboo” and “Ratatoille” dinnerware designed by Maguire for Dansk.

After years of painting part-time, Carol enrolled at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art in 2002, and emerged as a full-time oil painter. Her vibrant still life paintings, which evoke feelings of happiness and warmth, are represented in galleries across the country. In January 2009, her artwork was featured by the Addison Art Gallery in the American Art Collector Magazine.

Over the years, Carol has also worked as a freelance product designer for the Danbury Mint, Dimensions, and for Lenox China under the Dansk and Kate Spade brands.

After 30 years working in the fabric and textile industries, Carol has returned to design and product development under her own brand, Carol Maguire Home. Her products feature hand painted floral designs and patterns, offering the color vibrancy that comes from her oil paintings and the experience of a quilter’s methodical touch.